Arizona Mother Sentenced to 10 Years for Reckless Driving Through Kids' Park, Leaving 12-Year-Old Injured

An Arizona mother has been sentenced to a decade in state prison after driving her pickup truck through a busy park and running over a 12-year-old girl’s leg during an explosive reaction to a confrontation about alleged bullying. Brandie Gotch, 31, hailing from Peoria, entered a guilty plea to three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and received her sentence on June 13, as reported by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. The incident transpired on February 27, 2024, at Westgreen Park, situated approximately 15 miles northwest of Phoenix. Gotch's children were embroiled in a dispute while other children cheered and recorded the incident on their phones. When she arrived, tensions heightened, leading Gotch to lash out physically after being insulted. After the altercation escalated, Gotch reversed her vehicle, inadvertently striking the girl’s leg despite chaotic scenes unfolding in the park, where more than a dozen children were present. Fortunately, the most severe injury was a sprained ankle.